Liverpool have rejected an offer from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling .

City made a bid of an initial £25million - plus the possibility of £5million in add-ons - but the move was immediately rejected out of hand by Anfield chiefs who value the England international at more than £50million.

Sterling, who has turned down a new £100,000-a-week contract with the Reds, claims that his decision is based on a desire to win trophies rather than financial gain and his agent Aidy Ward is alleged to have claimed even a “£900,000-a-week” offer from Liverpool would not be enough to tempt him into penning a new deal.

The 20-year-old has already been the subject of interest this summer from City’s neighbours United and the player left many Kopites fuming when reports from his camp suggested he would be open to such a controversial move.

LOOK: Raheem Sterling's Liverpool career

Louis van Gaal remains a big admirer of Sterling, given that he could operate in several positions in his preferred 4-3-3 formation but the player acknowledges switching to Liverpool’s fiercest rivals could prove a major stumbling block in negotiations.

City, who had previously made Everton’s Ross Barkley their main summer target, have now switched their attention to Sterling and after having their opening bid rejected are expected to come back with an improved offer as they look to steal a march on Premier League champions Chelsea and FA Cup winners Arsenal who can offer Sterling a tempting move back to London where he spent his formative years.